On October 12, 25 days away from the November election, Republican presidential candidate and former President Trump visited Calhoun Ranch in Coachella, California, and delivered a speech at a campaign rally. Tens of thousands of people attended the rally, with many standing in the scorching heat as there were not enough seats for everyone to sit through the speeches of several guests for over four hours.
Trump stated that regardless of whether one is a Democrat, Republican, or an independent, this election is an opportunity to send a message to the world that the people of California will no longer tolerate the current situation. He promised to fight for every hardworking citizen of all nationalities, religions, skin colors, and beliefs.
In his speech, Trump emphasized the importance of putting America first and leading the country to unprecedented victories. Referring to “common sense”, Trump expressed that by embracing conservative principles, victories can be achieved.
Trump described California as a “lost paradise” with the highest inflation rate, taxes, oil prices, cost of living, strictest regulations, expensive utilities, highest homeless population, crime rates, severe decay, and most illegal immigrants.
He criticized Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, questioning what she would do differently from the current administration. Trump accused Harris of making California resemble a third-world country, especially pointing out the decline of San Francisco, her hometown.
Addressing the issue of illegal immigration, Trump blamed open borders for bringing in criminals who committed murders, robberies, and rapes in the United States. He vowed to save California and every town under siege if elected, referring to November 5 as a day of liberation.
Trump also mentioned the chaos of the Afghanistan withdrawal, highlighting the sacrifice of 13 American soldiers, including 22-year-old Hunter Lopez, the child of a police officer from Coachella who lost his life in the airport terror attack.
The audience responded enthusiastically when Trump discussed tax cuts, applauding his plans to reduce taxes significantly, eliminate or reduce new taxes, and make car loan interests and tips tax-free. He contrasted his tax plans with Harris’s proposal to increase taxes for ordinary families in Detroit.
Trump boasted about the economic growth during his presidency, creating millions of new jobs and reducing the tax burden on individuals and businesses. However, he acknowledged that the current inflation was affecting many people’s lives negatively.
Promising to make the United States a manufacturing powerhouse by imposing tariffs on foreign-produced goods, especially on products made in China, Trump argued that these tariffs could benefit Americans and help reduce the national debt.
Trump also addressed issues such as water restrictions in Los Angeles, power outages, wildfires, elections, and graffiti problems in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. He criticized the mismanagement of water resources and promised to provide more water and beautiful cities for the people.
During the rally, California Republican Party Chair Jessica Patterson noted Trump’s popularity across various counties in California, with a significant increase in Republican voters and a decrease in Democratic registered voters since last October. As the first Latina GOP chair in California, Patterson emphasized the shared values between the Latino community and the Republican Party, urging volunteers to ensure everyone they know goes out to vote early.
Coachella, spanning approximately 75 square kilometers, has seen its population grow from 1,000 residents when it was founded in 1946 to over 40,000 people today. With English and Spanish as the official languages, approximately 90% of the residents are Spanish speakers.